Tegemeo Conference 2008

Date : 17 & 18 September 2008

Venue: The Kenya School of Monetary Studies Nairobi, Kenya

Tegemeo Institute organized a two days conference to disseminate the finding of its research work on the trends and drivers of the agricultural productivity diversification and poverty reduction over the last decade (1997-2007). This research output is based on data collected over the last 10 years using the Tegemeo panel household survey. The study has tracked trends in agricultural productivity, changes in technology adoption, household incomes, poverty reduction and inequality.

Results of the study show that implementation of various strategies by the government has resulted in positive changes in agricultural and rural development in the country. Specifically, the results show increasing productivity of certain crops such as maize, tea and horticulture. Household incomes have also improved and poverty levels reduced. These changes however have not been uniform across commodities and agro-ecological zones. As the country embarks on the implementation of the Kenya Vision 2030, it is necessary to search for evidence of success in various sub-sectors and agro ecological zones to categorize the drivers of such successes. This would also facilitate identification of strategies that could be up-scaled or replicated and thereby contribute to the attainment of the agricultural sector's goal in the Kenya Vision 2030 strategy of becoming an innovative and commercially oriented modern sector.

The Conference took place on the 17th and 18th September, 2008 at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies . The theme of the conference was Agricultural Productivity, Competitiveness and Rural Poverty in Kenya: Laying the Foundation for the Kenya Vision 2030. The conference output is in line with the vision of the agricultural sector in the Kenya Vision 2030 and the sector's strategic thrusts of increasing productivity through provision of widely accessible inputs and services to the sector operators to move agriculture to the next level and thereby lay the foundation for the attainment of the aspirations in the Vision.

Participants of the conference were drawn from Government Ministries, producers, the private sector, Development Partners, Universities, and Policy Research Institutes, including the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The meeting was officiated by Dr. Romano M. Kiome Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture on behalf of the Kenya Minister for Agriculture Hon William Ruto EBS, MP.

3.Trends and Patterns in Fertilizer Use by Smallholder Farmers in Kenya, 1997-2007 by Joshua Ariga-Tegemeo Institute,Prof T.S. Jayne-Michigan State University,Betty Kibaara-Tegemeo Institute, and J.K. Nyoro-Director Tegemeo InstituteClick to download the Presentation(ppt)

5. Assessment of Kenya's domestic horticultural production and marketing system and lessons for the future by Prof David Tschirley-Michigan State University and Miltone Ayieko-Tegemeo InstituteClick to download the Presentation(ppt)

2. Food Policy Challenges in Eastern and Southern Africa in Light of the Current World Food Price Situation by Prof T. Jayne-Michigan State UniversityClick to download the Presentation(ppt)

3. The role of technology development in agricultural transformation in kenya by Dr. E. A. Mukisira Director Kenya Agricultural Research Institute - KARIClick to download the Presentation(ppt)

4. Policies challenges and opportunities for producer organizations in Kenya by Dr. John K. Mutunga CEO - Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP)Click to download the Presentation(ppt)